I recently moved to Mexico and have been in need of a bike, so when this popped up for the equivelent of about $70 US I was pretty excited. Its in pretty rough shape, but honestly I'm glad as I haven't had a good bike project in a while. I can't seem to figure out what model it is though (or if it is actually real). The color scheme is quite similar to the Motorola team bikes from the early 90's, but it is slightly different. Additionally, it is embossed in multiple places with the name Zanella. Almost all the parts seem to have been replaced over the years aside from the quill stem headset. It also has a clover sticker on the head badge and a rino fluted seat post which I think may be very badly seized up. Any ideas?

Definitely not a Merckx.

The good news is Zanella has a pretty good reputation.
Shame it's in such poor shape.

if you can find wood bleach crystals there in Mexico, which are Oxalic Acid, and something like a kid's wading pool big enough to soak the frame. this may be your best bet to get rid of the rust and maybe salvage all sound metal.
Search these archives for Oxalic Acid topics and you'll find loads of advice, some might even be helpful!

best of luck, it's not a Merckx but looks like a decent Italian brand and a worthwhile project

Some good info on Zanella here - https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/di...pecial.204946/ The pantographed headbadge is interesting there was just a thread on anther brand with panto headbadge. The paint (masked accents) on this also looks like the paint on another very recent "can you help me identify this frame" thread, I can't seem to find now.

Thanks for the info everyone, It has been very helpful. Gonna try to fix it up the best I can, and I'll give the Oxalic Acid a shot. It's definitely on of those frames where I'd be fascinated to know its story and how it ended up in this kind of shape in such an unexpected place, but it will probably remain a mystery.

If you give that bike the kind of love and attention it both needs and deserves, I'm pretty sure it'll talk to you at some point.

Worth mentioning that a nice tequila or some Mexican beers along the way ... well ... wouldn't hurt.

Good luck!

Have a GOOD look inside the bb shell.
If there is rust in there, check the bottoms of the chainstays and their sockets; check means probe *hard* with a dental pick or similar tool; significant rust here is frame death.
Then that seatpost will have to come out before you use an oxalic acid bath, unless you manage to keep the aluminium separated from the solution.
Lots of advice of various methods of getting one out if you search.
The problem with rust on good frames is that they are thin walled, so the pitting yours shows near the seat cluster would concern me.
Measure the seatpost diameter (average of several places in case it varies).
Subtract that from 28.6 and divide by 2 = wall thickness.
Less than 1.0 = good frame, rust bad.